In the midst of flu season, countries in the southern hemisphere are experiencing a spike in the A/H1N1 flu providing added imputes for richer nations to aid others less capable of preparing for the pandemic, said two United Nations officials on Thursday.

"Argentina is showing more than a 10-fold increase," UN Assistant-Secretary General for Policy Coordination Robert Orr said at a press conference.

He added that officials had expected rates of the virus, commonly known as swine flu, to increase in the Southern hemisphere but its ability to spread quickly was something to "keep a close eye on."

The World Health Organization (WHO), on Thursday, said that the pandemic has spread "internationally with unprecedented speed."

David Navarro, head of UN coordination for Avian and Human Influenza, also told reporters that the current situation is "not one that leaves any of us feeling comfortable."

While richer countries, such as the United States, have seen an increase in hospitalization, death rates have been limited. However, Navarro said, "communities with inadequate resources will suffer greater problems."

"Countries that spend the least on health care are likely to be hit the hardest," said Navarro, noting particular concern for Africa, but also adding Asia and Latin America to the list.

The WHO and the United Nations have been pushing rich nations to provide medical resources to developing countries, particularly to the Least Developed Countries.

"This virus is going to get into every country," said Navarro, reiterating the WHO's warning that the pandemic is unstoppable.

"It will take time but it will happen," he added.

Meanwhile, Navarro, who is also in charge of coordinating UN efforts on food security, warned that the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) is seriously short of funding, jeopardizing millions of people around the world.

"Last year, they had a record income of US$5 billion," David Navarro told reporters. "This year they are still two-thirds short."

A record 1.02 billion people are undernourished, according to the WFP, a figure that has increased since the international financial and food crises. In 2009, WFP aims to deliver food assistance to 105 million people in 74 countries, according to its website.

Most recently, the organization had to scale back operations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) due to a lack of funding and restrictions placed on operations by the government.

The WFP has received only 15 percent of the US$504 million it needs to feed the 6.2 million vulnerable people in the isolated country.

Navarro urged donor countries to dig deeper to help the WFP but, at the same time, he welcomed the commitment by the Group of Eight (G8) in L'Aquila, Italy to finance food security over the next three years to a tune of US$20 billion.

The extra funds are crucial, he said, particularly as it becomes evident that changes in climate patterns are having a drastic impact on small-scale farmers.

"There is a clear link between food production and the potential impact of climate change, which will impinge on the poorest people," he said.

A report released on July 5 by the aid agency Oxfam highlighted that seasons that were once distinct are shifting, destroying harvests and causing widespread hunger.

Without immediate action, warned the study, 50 years of development gains in poor countries will be permanently lost. Farmers from all over the world are reporting that seasons are becoming less distinct. They are uncertain when best to cultivate, sow, and harvest, said the report.

As a result of changing climate patterns, global efforts must adopt region-specific strategies and extra protective measures to ensure the security of food production, said Navarro.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2009)